The dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere : with the notes of all the various commentators ; printed complete from the best editions of Sam. Johnson and Geo. Steevens.
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. author.; Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.; Steevens, George, 1736-1800.; Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744.; Hanmer, Thomas, Sir, 1677-1746.; Warburton, William, 1698-1779.; Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744.; Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718.; Malone, Edmond, 1741-1812.; Tollet, George, approximately 1725-1779.; Bell, John, 1745-1831, bookseller.; Bell, John, 1745-1831, printer.; Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818, printmaker.; Grignion, Charles, 1721-1810, printmaker.; Brown, Mather, 1761-1831, printmaker.; Sherwin, Charles, 1764-1794, printmaker.; Bartolozzi, Francesco, 1727-1815, printmaker.; Sharp, William, 1749-1824, printmaker.; Cosway, Richard, 1740-1821, printmaker.; Thornthwaite, J., 1740?- printmaker.; Burney, Edward Francis, 1760-1848, illustrator.; Dance, Nathaniel, Sir, 1735-1811, illustrator.; Delattre, Jean Marie, 1745-1840?, printmaker.; Ramberg, Johann Heinrich, 1763-1840, illustrator.; Sanders, illustrator.; Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1779-1860, former owner.; Hawes, J. H. G., active 1873, signer.; Loftus, Douglas, active 1885, signer.
1788
Items
Details
Title
The dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere : with the notes of all the various commentators ; printed complete from the best editions of Sam. Johnson and Geo. Steevens.
Uniform title
Plays. 1788. John Bell
Created/published
London : Printed for, and under the direction of, John Bell, British Library, Strand, bookseller to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, MDCCLXXXVIII [1788]
Description
20 v. : ill., ports. (copper-plate engravings) ; 15 cm (12mo)
Associated name
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. author.
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.
Steevens, George, 1736-1800.
Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744.
Hanmer, Thomas, Sir, 1677-1746.
Warburton, William, 1698-1779.
Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744.
Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718.
Malone, Edmond, 1741-1812.
Tollet, George, approximately 1725-1779.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, bookseller.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, printer.
Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818, printmaker.
Grignion, Charles, 1721-1810, printmaker.
Brown, Mather, 1761-1831, printmaker.
Sherwin, Charles, 1764-1794, printmaker.
Bartolozzi, Francesco, 1727-1815, printmaker.
Sharp, William, 1749-1824, printmaker.
Cosway, Richard, 1740-1821, printmaker.
Thornthwaite, J., 1740?- printmaker.
Burney, Edward Francis, 1760-1848, illustrator.
Dance, Nathaniel, Sir, 1735-1811, illustrator.
Delattre, Jean Marie, 1745-1840?, printmaker.
Ramberg, Johann Heinrich, 1763-1840, illustrator.
Sanders, illustrator.
Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1779-1860, former owner.
Hawes, J. H. G., active 1873, signer.
Loftus, Douglas, active 1885, signer.
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.
Steevens, George, 1736-1800.
Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744.
Hanmer, Thomas, Sir, 1677-1746.
Warburton, William, 1698-1779.
Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744.
Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718.
Malone, Edmond, 1741-1812.
Tollet, George, approximately 1725-1779.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, bookseller.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, printer.
Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818, printmaker.
Grignion, Charles, 1721-1810, printmaker.
Brown, Mather, 1761-1831, printmaker.
Sherwin, Charles, 1764-1794, printmaker.
Bartolozzi, Francesco, 1727-1815, printmaker.
Sharp, William, 1749-1824, printmaker.
Cosway, Richard, 1740-1821, printmaker.
Thornthwaite, J., 1740?- printmaker.
Burney, Edward Francis, 1760-1848, illustrator.
Dance, Nathaniel, Sir, 1735-1811, illustrator.
Delattre, Jean Marie, 1745-1840?, printmaker.
Ramberg, Johann Heinrich, 1763-1840, illustrator.
Sanders, illustrator.
Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1779-1860, former owner.
Hawes, J. H. G., active 1873, signer.
Loftus, Douglas, active 1885, signer.
Note
In 1785, Bell began to issue the 36 separate plays individually, collecting them in twenty quarto volumes in 1788 as the Dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere (Burnhim and Highfill, p. 16-17). Individual plays are of two or more editions of different date, usually mixed sets; plays of the first edition were printed in two formats, 8vo and 12mo (Folger card catalog).
The 1788 12mo edition was also offered in 59 numbered parts intended to be bound into 20 volumes. Each part in printed wrappers contains either a play with two illustrations, annotations upon the plays, or Prolegomena; while part 59 contains v.1-20 title pages, half-titles, and the list of subscribers. The contents list of 36 plays on the wrappers differ in order from how the 20 vol. were bound; they are in the order that Bell originally issued the plays to be sold individually. Tempest with a leaf of directions "to bookbinders, corrections and additions to the directions for binding Bell's edition of Shakspere's works." Wrappers bear the imprint: Bell's edition of Shakspere's works ... sold by the proprietor, British Library, Strand. See the alternate note listing the contents of the 59 parts, below.
Title transcription and imprint from v. 3 title page.
Bell's advertisement on printed wrapper no. 52: "printed by Mess. Fry and Couchman on two sorts of paper."
Vol. 1 and 2 with title-pages: Prolegomena to the dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere. Vol. 3-20 with two plays followed by their "Annotations by Sam. Johnson & Geo. Steevens, and the various commentators, upon [play title], written by Will. Shakspere."
Each vol. with a half-title and a vol. title page; each play with an individual title page bearing the heading "Bell's edition"; each annotation with an individual title page. Plays are dated between 1785-1788, sometimes as late as 1790; annotations are dated 1787.
Individual plays and annotations have separate pagination and signatures; also issued individually.
Engraved illustrations, dated between 1784-1788, variously lettered by engravers: Cook, R. Cosway, Burk, Delattre, C. Sherwin, Bartolozzi, Sharpe, Grignion, Newnham, M. Brown, Thornthwaite; and by artists: Dance, Ramberg, Burney, Sanders.
The prefaces of Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson; and a list of subscribers in v. 1. Malone's Attempt to ascertain the chronological order in which the plays of Shakspere were written, and Some account of the life, &c. of Mr. William Shakespear by Rowe in v. 2.
Annotations upon King Henry IV, part 1 with "Mr. Tollet's opinion concerning the Morris Dancers upon his window" accompanied by folded engraving lettered: Grignion sculpt., in v. 11.
The 1788 12mo edition was also offered in 59 numbered parts intended to be bound into 20 volumes. Each part in printed wrappers contains either a play with two illustrations, annotations upon the plays, or Prolegomena; while part 59 contains v.1-20 title pages, half-titles, and the list of subscribers. The contents list of 36 plays on the wrappers differ in order from how the 20 vol. were bound; they are in the order that Bell originally issued the plays to be sold individually. Tempest with a leaf of directions "to bookbinders, corrections and additions to the directions for binding Bell's edition of Shakspere's works." Wrappers bear the imprint: Bell's edition of Shakspere's works ... sold by the proprietor, British Library, Strand. See the alternate note listing the contents of the 59 parts, below.
Title transcription and imprint from v. 3 title page.
Bell's advertisement on printed wrapper no. 52: "printed by Mess. Fry and Couchman on two sorts of paper."
Vol. 1 and 2 with title-pages: Prolegomena to the dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere. Vol. 3-20 with two plays followed by their "Annotations by Sam. Johnson & Geo. Steevens, and the various commentators, upon [play title], written by Will. Shakspere."
Each vol. with a half-title and a vol. title page; each play with an individual title page bearing the heading "Bell's edition"; each annotation with an individual title page. Plays are dated between 1785-1788, sometimes as late as 1790; annotations are dated 1787.
Individual plays and annotations have separate pagination and signatures; also issued individually.
Engraved illustrations, dated between 1784-1788, variously lettered by engravers: Cook, R. Cosway, Burk, Delattre, C. Sherwin, Bartolozzi, Sharpe, Grignion, Newnham, M. Brown, Thornthwaite; and by artists: Dance, Ramberg, Burney, Sanders.
The prefaces of Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson; and a list of subscribers in v. 1. Malone's Attempt to ascertain the chronological order in which the plays of Shakspere were written, and Some account of the life, &c. of Mr. William Shakespear by Rowe in v. 2.
Annotations upon King Henry IV, part 1 with "Mr. Tollet's opinion concerning the Morris Dancers upon his window" accompanied by folded engraving lettered: Grignion sculpt., in v. 11.
Contents
v. 1-2. Prolegomena
v. 3. Tempest ; Two gentlemen of Verona
v. 4. Merry wives of Windsor ; Much ado about nothing
v. 5. Measure for measure ; Comedy of errors
v. 6. Love's labour's lost ; Midsummer-night's dream
v. 7. Merchant of Venice ; As you like it
v. 8. Taming of the shrew ; All's well that ends well
v. 9. Twelfth-night ; Winter's tale
v. 10. Macbeth ; King John
v. 11. King Richard II ; King Henry IV, part 1
v. 12. King Henry IV, part 2 ; Henry V
v. 13. King Henry VI, part 1-2
v. 14. King Henry VI, part 3 ; King Richard III
v. 15. King Henry VIII ; Coriolanus
v. 16. Julius Caesar ; Antony and Cleopatra
v. 17. Timon of Athens ; King Lear
v. 18. Hamlet ; Titus Andronicus
v. 19. Troilus and Cressida ; Othello
v. 20. Cymbeline ; Romeo and Juliet.
Alternate contents: pt. 1. Tempest
pt. 2. Measure for measure
pt. 3. Macbeth
pt. 4. Much ado about nothing
pt. 5. Hamlet
pt. 6. Romeo and Juliet
pt. 7. Merchant of Venice
pt. 8. Merry wives of Windsor
pt. 9. Julius Caesar
pt. 10. Midsummer-night's dream
pt. 11. Titus Andronicus
pt. 12. Twelfth-night
pt. 13. Love's labour's lost
pt. 14. Timon of Athens
pt. 15. Troilus and Cressida
pt. 16. As you like it
pt. 17. Othello
pt. 18. Comedy of errors
pt. 19. Henry V
pt. 20. King Lear
pt. 21. King Henry IV, part 1
pt. 22. King Henry IV, part 2
pt. 23. Taming of the shrew
pt. 24. Cymbeline
pt. 25. All's well that ends well
pt. 26. King Henry VI, part 1
pt. 27. King Henry VI, part 2
pt. 28. King Henry VI, part 3
pt. 29. King Richard III
pt. 30. King John
pt. 31. King Henry VIII
pt. 32. King Richard II
pt. 33. Winter's tale
pt. 34. Two gentlemen of Verona
pt. 35. Coriolanus
pt. 36. Antony and Cleopatra.
Alternate contents (cont.): pt. 37-40. Prolegomena
pt. 41. Annotations upon: As you like it ; Othello
pt. 42. Annotations upon: King Lear ; Julius Caesar
pt. 43. Annotations upon: Macbeth ; Comedy of errors
pt. 44. Annotations upon: Antony and Cleopatra ; Taming of the shrew
pt. 45. Annotations upon: King Richard II ; King John
pt. 46. Annotations upon: Cymbeline ; Much ado about nothing
pt. 47. Annotations upon: King Richard III ; King Henry VIII
pt. 48. Annotations upon: Troilus and Cressida ; Merchant of Venice
pt. 49. Annotations upon: Winter's tale ; Love's labour's lost
pt. 50. Annotations upon: Measure for measure ; Midsummer-night's dream
pt. 51. Annotations upon: Merry wives of Windsor ; Coriolanus
pt. 52. Annotations upon: Tempest ; All's well that ends well
pt. 53. Annotations upon: Henry V ; King Henry VI, part 1
pt. 54. Annotations upon: King Henry VI, part 2-3 ; Timon of Athens
pt. 55. Annotations upon: Hamlet ; Titus Andronicus
pt. 56. Annotations upon: King Henry IV, part 1
pt. 57. Annotations upon King Henry IV, part 2 ; Twelfth-night
pt. 58. Annotations upon: Romeo and Juliet ; Two gentlemen of Verona
pt. 59. Vol. 1-20 title pages and half-titles ; edition contents ; list of subscribers.
v. 3. Tempest ; Two gentlemen of Verona
v. 4. Merry wives of Windsor ; Much ado about nothing
v. 5. Measure for measure ; Comedy of errors
v. 6. Love's labour's lost ; Midsummer-night's dream
v. 7. Merchant of Venice ; As you like it
v. 8. Taming of the shrew ; All's well that ends well
v. 9. Twelfth-night ; Winter's tale
v. 10. Macbeth ; King John
v. 11. King Richard II ; King Henry IV, part 1
v. 12. King Henry IV, part 2 ; Henry V
v. 13. King Henry VI, part 1-2
v. 14. King Henry VI, part 3 ; King Richard III
v. 15. King Henry VIII ; Coriolanus
v. 16. Julius Caesar ; Antony and Cleopatra
v. 17. Timon of Athens ; King Lear
v. 18. Hamlet ; Titus Andronicus
v. 19. Troilus and Cressida ; Othello
v. 20. Cymbeline ; Romeo and Juliet.
Alternate contents: pt. 1. Tempest
pt. 2. Measure for measure
pt. 3. Macbeth
pt. 4. Much ado about nothing
pt. 5. Hamlet
pt. 6. Romeo and Juliet
pt. 7. Merchant of Venice
pt. 8. Merry wives of Windsor
pt. 9. Julius Caesar
pt. 10. Midsummer-night's dream
pt. 11. Titus Andronicus
pt. 12. Twelfth-night
pt. 13. Love's labour's lost
pt. 14. Timon of Athens
pt. 15. Troilus and Cressida
pt. 16. As you like it
pt. 17. Othello
pt. 18. Comedy of errors
pt. 19. Henry V
pt. 20. King Lear
pt. 21. King Henry IV, part 1
pt. 22. King Henry IV, part 2
pt. 23. Taming of the shrew
pt. 24. Cymbeline
pt. 25. All's well that ends well
pt. 26. King Henry VI, part 1
pt. 27. King Henry VI, part 2
pt. 28. King Henry VI, part 3
pt. 29. King Richard III
pt. 30. King John
pt. 31. King Henry VIII
pt. 32. King Richard II
pt. 33. Winter's tale
pt. 34. Two gentlemen of Verona
pt. 35. Coriolanus
pt. 36. Antony and Cleopatra.
Alternate contents (cont.): pt. 37-40. Prolegomena
pt. 41. Annotations upon: As you like it ; Othello
pt. 42. Annotations upon: King Lear ; Julius Caesar
pt. 43. Annotations upon: Macbeth ; Comedy of errors
pt. 44. Annotations upon: Antony and Cleopatra ; Taming of the shrew
pt. 45. Annotations upon: King Richard II ; King John
pt. 46. Annotations upon: Cymbeline ; Much ado about nothing
pt. 47. Annotations upon: King Richard III ; King Henry VIII
pt. 48. Annotations upon: Troilus and Cressida ; Merchant of Venice
pt. 49. Annotations upon: Winter's tale ; Love's labour's lost
pt. 50. Annotations upon: Measure for measure ; Midsummer-night's dream
pt. 51. Annotations upon: Merry wives of Windsor ; Coriolanus
pt. 52. Annotations upon: Tempest ; All's well that ends well
pt. 53. Annotations upon: Henry V ; King Henry VI, part 1
pt. 54. Annotations upon: King Henry VI, part 2-3 ; Timon of Athens
pt. 55. Annotations upon: Hamlet ; Titus Andronicus
pt. 56. Annotations upon: King Henry IV, part 1
pt. 57. Annotations upon King Henry IV, part 2 ; Twelfth-night
pt. 58. Annotations upon: Romeo and Juliet ; Two gentlemen of Verona
pt. 59. Vol. 1-20 title pages and half-titles ; edition contents ; list of subscribers.
Cited/described in
Burnim & Highfill. John Bell, p. 16-17
English short title catalogue (ESTC), T65177
Jaggard, W. Shakespeare bibliography, p. 505
English short title catalogue (ESTC), T65177
Jaggard, W. Shakespeare bibliography, p. 505
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England -- London.
Item Details
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 1 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
With bookseller's description pasted on v.1 front endpaper. Autograph: Douglas Loftus, 1885; Mr. Bastard (back endpaper v.15). Bound in calf with red leather spine labels. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs85
Call number
PR2807.J58 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
'Titus Andronicus' and 'Hamlet' Annotations only
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 3 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Vol. 10 with Macbeth and King John, London: John Cawthorn, 1806; and annotations, London: George Cawthorn, 1796. Vol. 11 lacking Morris dancers ill. Quarter leather binding with marbled paper boards and leather spine labels. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs61
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 4 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
In 59 parts. Tempest with directions to bookbinders. Some Annotations unopened; all parts uncut. Some parts lacking front, back, or entire wrapper. Housed in 15 boxes with marbled paper and red leather spine labels. Autograph on King John wrapper: Marshall B[oysey?]. Part 51 with label pasted on back wrapper: "Lot 45." Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs323
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 5 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Bound with some copies of annotations with George Cawthorn imprints of the 1790s. Armorial bookplate in Cyrillic (motto: Fuimus et sumus) of Georg Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Bound in calf with gilt-tooled spine, red leather spine labels, and marbled endpapers and edges. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs8
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 7 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: numbered parts 37-40, and 59 only. Pts. 37-40 in printed wrappers, pt. 59 in plain ones. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs122, cs499
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 8 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: v.1-2 Prolegomena only; v. 2 with a photograph of Shakespeare's Memorial pasted on half-title. Tree-calf binding with leather spine labels and fillets. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs886
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 9 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: 1 volume of full Prolegomena only. Autograph: J.H.G. Hawes, 1873. Half bound in calf with paper-covered boards and leather spine labels. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs184
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 10 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: v.1-2 Prolegomena only. Bookplate: C.J.H.M. Tree-calf with gilt-tooled edges, leather spine labels, and marbled endpapers. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs327
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 11 v.1-2 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
36 individual volumes of plays lacking annotations, dated between 1785-1786 shelved together; all but v.1-2 Prolegomena cataloged separately. Bound in speckled calf with gold fillets and red leather spine labels.
Folger accession
1.17.56
Call number
PR2752 1788b copy 12 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: Tempest only. Calf(?) with gold decorations and leather spine label.
Folger accession
cs99